The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1887-01-27
The New Road.
National Republican,

|
Gus coal measure commenc that ex-
tend to the Ohio river. When a
railroad connecting the coal and
ore deposits shall traverse North
Carolina, manufacturing will in
crease in that State with unexam-
pied rapidity. Mayor Johnson, of
Charlotte, and several leading man
ufactqrers there told me that the
present business was but small
fraction of what it would be when
tho Charleston, Cincinnati and Chi
Gao railroad had finished its line
from Ashland, KY, to Marion, on
the Western North Carolina road,
or to some more southerly connec-
ton.
In Wilmington the merchants
are rejoicing because the c., c. a c.
will lay down coal at their wharyes
at a price that will make their city
coaling station for European and
coasting steamers. They expect
also that by bringing poplar, white
oak, cherry, walnut and hickory
logs and lumber in great quantities
it viii double their already cxten-
siye business, Equally great ex-
pectatlons are entertained by bust
ness men in Raleigh, Asheville and
other interior cities, who watch the
progress ofthe &C. & c. road with
profound interest.
Probably no enterprise Of like
magnitude was ever prosecuted
with so little flourish of trumpets
or so little public talk, When
operations were begun in North
and South Carolina much curiosity
was awakened, but the manage
ment was reticent. Surveys were
made between Rutherfordton, in
the former, and Blacks a station on
the A. & G. air line, in this State,
Grading was done and track laying
begun before the general public
learned that the road-bed just COM
pleted was the first link of sys-
| tenn that would connect Charleston
harbor with the head of low water
navigation on thu Ohio river at
Ashland, KY. When they realiaed
that its route ran through the ore
banks and coal measures, already
named, they became enthusiastic,
for this road would furnish what
they much needed, but had never
been able to get, cheap coal and
iron. Forty-fve miles of this road
will be completed by the first of
January. examined the section
from Shelby southwark, over which
trains are running. Idoubt wheth-
or any road was ever built at the
South equal to this, Steel rails Of
60t pounds are used, and will be on
the entire line. The road-bed is ex-
cellently surfaced and except for
the freshness ofthe ties and spikes
works as though it has been built
for years. Another section will be
completed by the first of April,
| 1887, which will make total of 105
miles equipped and in operation.
The Massachusetts and Southern
Construction Company, which is
building this road, has pursued a
financial policy unparalleled in the
history OF such undertakings, tor it
has carried on its work without
calling on the public for assistance.
Every dollar it has expended has
been furnished by inside parties.
This unusual policy has attracted
the attention Of Capitalists.
Agents of several foreign syndicates
have been obtaining information
about the resources of the country
the road is to traverse, preliminary
to negotiations for securing the
whole issue of the company's
bonds.
l have no knowledge Of the in
tentions of the Massachusetts, and
Southern Construction Company,
but | am certain that no enterprise
was ever pushed forward more ener-
getically or Independently or with
so little newspaper flourish. The
] knowledge of the railroad they are
!. building has gone abroad and is
attracting investors to the country.
| have met numbers of northern
capitalists, and have heard of 9TH